Brand Heritage
Crowned Heads is a Nashville-based boutique cigar company founded in 2011 by Jon Huber and Mike Conder, two veterans of the premium tobacco industry who built the brand on a philosophy of craftsmanship, storytelling, and limited-production blends. Known for generating serious buzz among aficionados and consistently earning high ratings from major cigar publications, Crowned Heads has established itself as one of the most respected independent brands in the modern premium cigar market. Their portfolio is defined by carefully curated blends and distinctive branding, with each line carrying its own identity and character.
Blend & Construction
The Crowned Heads Broadway Toro is a Nicaraguan puro at its core, featuring a Nicaraguan binder and all-Nicaraguan filler tobaccos, crowned by a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper — a combination that reflects the brand's affinity for rich, well-structured blends. The vitola presented here is the Epicure, measuring 6 1/2 inches with a 54 ring gauge, offering a generous smoking experience in a format that allows the tobaccos ample time to develop and express complexity. Connecticut Broadleaf is a wrapper varietal known for its oily, toothy texture and its ability to lend depth and natural sweetness to a blend, making it a fitting complement to the robust Nicaraguan tobacco underneath.
Flavor Profile
In keeping with what one would expect from a Connecticut Broadleaf-wrapped, all-Nicaraguan blend of this character, the Broadway Toro presents a medium-to-full-bodied smoke with layers of dark, earthy richness. Expect notes typical of this profile — roasted coffee, dark chocolate, cedar, and a subtle natural sweetness from the maduro wrapper — with the Nicaraguan tobaccos providing backbone, pepper, and depth. The larger ring gauge allows for a cooler, more expansive draw, and the smoke tends to evolve through the cigar, transitioning from an initial earthiness toward a more refined and complex finish as the blend opens up.
Recommended Pairings
Alcoholic: A wheated bourbon such as Maker's Mark 46 — its vanilla and caramel notes harmonize beautifully with the natural sweetness of the Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper while holding up to the Nicaraguan tobacco's earthy strength.
Non-Alcoholic: A double espresso or cold brew coffee — the roasted, slightly bitter character of quality coffee mirrors and amplifies the darker tasting notes within the cigar, creating a complementary pairing that enhances both.
Best Enjoyed
The Crowned Heads Broadway Toro is best suited for intermediate to experienced cigar smokers who appreciate a fuller-bodied, complex smoke with staying power. Given its substantial size, plan for approximately 90 minutes to two hours of smoking time. This is an ideal evening cigar — well-suited to leisurely occasions, a relaxed weekend afternoon, or a contemplative moment after a good meal. Its depth and character reward a patient, unhurried approach, making it a poor choice for a quick smoke but an excellent companion for those with time to appreciate what's in hand.